The Arnold C. Ott Lectureship in Chemistry was created and endowed by a generous gift from Dr. Arnold C. Ott and Marion Ott. Dr. Ott received his Ph.D. in 1943 from Michigan State University in Chemistry/Physics/Bacteriology and was a leading chemist and entrepreneur in West Michigan. He was one of the co-founders of Grand Valley State University and served on the GVSU Board of Trustees for 28 years.  

This lectureship series was created for the purpose of providing our students and university with the opportunity to interact with world renowned scientists who are recognized as leaders in their specialty, known for their vision and passion for chemistry, and for inspiring students and faculty. Ott lecturers are invited to participate in a two-lecture series: one to our chemistry faculty and students focused on their scholarship, the second to the general public centering on the broader applications of their work and designed to increase science awareness in the community.

Les and Jackie (Ott) Stiner carry on the vision of inspiring students and faculty in chemistry through their dedicated support of the Ott-Stiner Scholars program, providing financial support for students to engage in mentored undergraduate research.

Mr. Stiner is a retired businessman who as an entrepreneur founded and operated several businesses in Michigan and served as a marketing executive for Mobil Oil Corporation, United Rent-All Corporation, and the Ace Hardware Corporation. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Howell Opera House, the Howell Historical Society, the Jaguar Affiliates Group of Michigan, the Livingston County United Way, and other nonprofit and profit organizations. He is a military veteran of the Ohio Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force. He is a graduate of Bliss Business College and The Ohio State University and has served as an adjunct instructor for the University of Michigan. He also has been awarded a Doctor of Public Service by Grand Valley State University.

Mrs. Stiner has served as an active partner with Mr. Stiner in his business ventures and to this day serves as the comptroller of their financial affairs. She also is a retired teacher who served her students and the Howell Public School System for 32 years. She also served on several Board of Directors of their businesses and other nonprofit organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts from Michigan State University plus 53 credits past this graduate degree. She also has been awarded a Doctor of Public Service by Grand Valley State University.

Since Mr. Stiner’s retirement from Ace Hardware Corporation in 1998, and Mrs. Stiner’s retirement from Howell Public Schools in 2000, they established The Stiner Company LLC to do consulting, the sales of businesses, and investing. Mr. Stiner served as President, and Mrs. Stiner as comptroller. In about 2005 this company was converted to a type of proprietorship and to serve as a nonprofit operation to give a helping hand to those who needed one. From that time on the two of them have devoted themselves to philanthropy and the giving of a “Helping Hand” to those who are in need.

Mr. and Mrs. Stiner have been married since 1969. They are privileged to be the son-in-law and daughter of Dr. Arnold C. & Mrs. Marion P. Ott. Dr. Ott was one of the original founders of Grand Valley State University and served on the Board of Directors for 29 years. Together Dr. & Mrs. Ott supported the University and in 2001 endowed the Ott Lectureship in Chemistry and in 2005 the Hilda Holder Scholarship for Women in Business. Through this family relationship Mr. & Mrs. Stiner became aware of GVSU from the time they first became a couple. Many holiday visits were spent with Dr. Ott talking with them about his work mentoring the University Board as Chair. This led them to become donors and supporters of the University. They have attended some 25 GVSU Enrichment Events as well as many other events in support of the University. As a family, they carry on the standards their parents set to foster the goals and direction of the Ott Lectureship and the Hilda Holder Scholarship.

Mr. and Mrs. Stiner are so happy to now be alumni of Grand Valley State University, because of their graduation on December 10, 2022, where they both received their Doctor of Public Service degrees.

Les and Jackie (Ott) Stiner Research Fellowship in American Thought, Language, and Music Endowment

The Les and Jackie (Ott) Stiner Fellowship for Investigating Ancient Human Life in the Great Lakes Region: Honoring Legacy and Exploration

Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas and Les and Jackie (Ott) Stiner Early Career Award for Undergraduate Mentorship Endowment

Les and Jackie (Ott) Stiner Research Fellowship Endowment in Physics, Biology, and Natural Sciences

Les & Jackie (Ott) Stiner Fellowship In Scientific Skeptical Reasoning and Logic

The Ott-Stiner Fellowship in Chemistry and Natural Sciences

Les and Jackie (Ott) Stiner Fellowship in Historical and Humanistic Studies

Hilda C. Holder Endowed Scholarship for Support of Women in Business

Sept 11 and 12, 2025: Brian Kobilka (Stanford University) – Protein Structure and Dynamics

Vernon Ehlers, Ph.D.
U.S. Congress

Michael D. Parker, M.B.A.
Dow Chemical Company

Carl Djerassi, Ph.D.
Stanford University

Robin D. Rogers, Ph.D.
University of Alabama

Virginia W. Cornish, Ph.D.
Columbia University

Richard N. Zare, Ph.D.
Stanford University

Thomas H. Lane, Ph.D.
Dow Corning Corporation

Chad A. Mirkin, Ph.D.
Northwestern University

Gregory A. Petsko, Ph.D.
Brandeis University

Harry B. Gray, Ph.D.
California Institute of Technology

Gary M. Hieftje, Ph.D.
Indiana University

Roderick MacKinnon, M.D.
Nobel Laureate in Chemistry
The Rockefeller University

Kevan Shokat, Ph.D.
University of California, San Francisco

Ada Yonath, Ph.D.
Nobel Laureate in Chemistry
Weizmann Institute of Science

W. Carl Lineberger, Ph.D.
University of Colorado, Boulder

Richmond Sarpong, Ph.D.
University of California, Berkeley

Jeffrey Moore, Ph.D.
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Wilson Ho, Ph.D.
University of California, Irvine

Geraldine Richmond, Ph.D.
University of Oregon

Sara E. Skrabalak, Ph.D.
Indiana University

Thomas J. Meyer, Ph.D.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Brian K. Shoichet, Ph.D.
University of California, San Francisco

Daniel M. Neumark, Ph.D.
University of California, Berkeley

Stephen L. Buchwald, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Melanie Sanford, Ph.D.
University of Michigan

Karen Trentelman, Ph.D.
Getty Conservation Institute

Anne McNeil, Ph.D.
University of Michigan

Tom Guarr, Ph.D.
Michigan State University Bioeconomy Institute

Daniel Nocera, Ph.D.
Harvard University

Kent Kirshenbaum, Ph.D.
New York University 

Thomas J. Meade, Ph.D.
Northwestern University 

Dante Lauretta, Ph.D.
University of Arizona